Clothes-line.



W. P. WELTY. CLOTHES LINE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.14, 1910.

Patented June 20, 1911.

CLOTHESJLINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 14, 1910.

Patented June 20, 1911.

Serial No. 597,249.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM F. WVELTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cumberland, in the county of Chaves and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes- Lines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in clothes lines for suspending articles to be dried, and the invention has for its primary object to completely eliminate the necessity for using the ordinary clothes pin now generally adopted for this purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes line formed from galvanized wire adapted to be twisted at a number/of points in its length, and means arranged upon the wire between the twisted portions thereof to adjust the tension of the twisted portions of the wire so that articles of different thicknesses may be received between the untwisted portions thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an extremely simple, convenient and highly efficient device of the above nature whereby the articles may be easily and quickly suspended.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of clothes line embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of a section of the line illustrating the manner of adjusting the tension of the wire strands; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the sliding stays.

Referring in detail to the drawing 5 designates two strands of galvanized wire, the ends of which are adapted to be suitably secured to a fence or any other convenient support. These wire strands are twisted upon each other at a number of points between their ends as designated at 6. These twisted portions are of greater or less extent to provide openings 7 between the strands of wire of varying length. The wire strands are separated or spread apart to form these openings and upon the strands the stays 8 are arranged. From reference to Fig. 1 of the drawing it will be noted that one or two such stays may be located upon the separated portions of the wire strands. If desired, they may be arranged alternately as illustrated, or the longer separated portions of the strands may be arranged in groups and provided with the two stays while the shorter open portions 7 of the line could be arranged at the ends thereof and provided with a single stay. Any preferred arrangement may be employed. It will further be observed that the wire stays S are of different lengths in accordance with the distance between the separated port-ions of the wires. Each of the stays consists of a single length of wire which is coiled at its ends as shown at 8 about the line wires bounding the openings 7.

In the use of the invention, the articles are adapted to be arranged between the twisted portions of the wires and the stays which are disposed upon the open portions 7 of the line. The stays 8 are then longitudinally moved toward the twisted portions 6 to increase the tension of the same and to securely clamp the material between said wires. The bulkier articles are adapted to be arranged in the larger open spaces 7. Two articles may be clamped in one of the openings 7 in the line which are of greater thickness or made of different materials. Assuming that it is desired to secure a woolen and linen piece in the same opening on the line, the stays 8 would be moved in the same direction, and the twisted portions 6 toward which the stays are moved would be increased in tension while the twisted portion of the line at the other end of the opening would be separated or loosened. In this latter end of the opening 7, the woolen article would be disposed while the linen piece would be arranged in the smaller end thereof toward which the stays have been moved. The stays 8 are then adjusted to securely clamp the pieces in the line.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of use of my improved clothes line will be readily understood. While the line would preferably be formed from strands of galvanized wire, it will be understood that any other non-rustable material may be utilized. The use of the ordinary clothes pin is entirely eliminated whereby a device of great convenience is produced. The articles may be very quickly and securely clamped in the line and held against any liability of accidental dis engagement therefrom. It will further be obvious that the device may be constructed at an extremely low cost. I contemplate selling my improved clothes line to the trade in lengths wound into coils containing 100 or 200 feet, any desired amount of which may be cut off by the retailer for sale to patrons.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1. A device of the character described comprising two strands of wire adapted to be twisted upon themselves at a number of points between their ends, the wire between the twisted portions thereof being separated to receive articles between the same, and means adjustable upon said spaced portions of the wires to force the same into clamping engagement with the articles.

2. A device of the character described comprising two strands of wire adapted to be twisted upon themselves at a number of points intermediate of their ends, said wires between the twisted portions thereof being separated to provide spaces between them for the reception of articles to be suspended, and means longitudinally movable upon said spaced portions of the wires to move the same toward or away from each other into clamping engagement with the articles disposed between the same.

3. A device of the character described comprising two wire strands twisted upon themselves for varying distances at a num ber of places between their ends, said wires between the twisted portions thereof being separated to provide spaces for the reception of articles to be suspended, and stay wires coiled at their ends upon the separated portions of said wire strands and longitudinally movable thereon to move said separated portions toward or from each other whereby the strands may be clamped upon the articles which are arranged between the same.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAL l F. XVELTY.

Witnesses:

GEO. H. lVALL, F. G. KENNEDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the f Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

